Jun 23 Sora No Iro | ソラノイロ

Style: Shoyu w/ ChickenBowl to Crush: Tokusei Chuka Soba | 特製中華そば

The master of Sora No Iro, Miyazaki-san, worked at the ubiquitous Japanese ramen chain Ippudo and other notable Tokyo shops before opening his own place in 2011. Miyazaki-san is well acquainted with the Tokyo ramen scene and has eaten at hundreds of shops around the city. He's tipped us off to hush-hush shops on several occasions. Given his deep knowledge, it's no surprise that Miyazaki-san makes an above-average bowl.

The signature touch at Sora No Iro – which translates to 'color of the sky' – is light ramen presented with an artistic flair. Most of the dishes are generous with the fresh vegetables, but light on meat. There is even a vegan ramen on the menu and a few vegetarian options. The star of the shop in our view is the shoyu ramen, a chuka soba with chicken and thin noodles. The ingredients are beautifully presented and the broth highly drinkable. Miyazaki-san is always experimenting, so keep an eye out for seasonal specialties.

Sora No Iro now has a few shops (all with different themes) in central Tokyo. These shops are often crowded during the lunch hour with a heavy stream of salarymen and office ladies. Dinnertime hours tend to be quieter.